Months-Long Roadwork To Begin This Week In Palm Desert

PALM DESERT, CA — A months-long road improvement project is set to begin Monday on Gerald Ford Drive, bringing major upgrades — and some temporary traffic impacts — to one of Palm Desert’s busiest east-west corridors, the city announced.

The project spans from Cook Street to El Paseo del Corazon, the entrance to the Spanish Walk community. City officials say the work is intended to boost safety, ease congestion and improve the overall look and feel of the roadway.

Eastbound lanes will be closed for the duration of construction, while one lane of westbound traffic will remain open. All businesses in the area will stay open, and residents along the corridor will continue to have access to their homes, according to the city.

The improvement project includes a full slate of upgrades:

• New pavement along the entire stretch
• Installation of new medians
• New sidewalks, curbs, gutters and driveway approaches
• Upgraded traffic signals
• Underground utility improvements
• Enhanced median landscaping to beautify the corridor

Construction is scheduled to run from Dec. 1, 2025, through May 26, 2026.

City officials are encouraging drivers to plan ahead for delays and use alternate routes when possible.